Some of the best blooms are developed during Autumn! Rainfall and cooler weather allows rose plants to spend more time in bloom development. The result gives more vibrant colours, larger blooms and often stronger fragrances. Aside from the fantastic floral displays, the milder weather also encourages the presence of diseases and pests. This can cause our roses to defoliate early, prior to winter. In this newsletter we discuss how to maintain healthy rose plants during Autumn and how to begin preparing for any new additions to our rose garden in Winter. In this newsletter... - 2018 New Releases - 2018 Catalogue - Rose Care For Autumn - Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show - Preparing For New Roses: Soil Preparation & How To Select The Right Rose - Help Save The Bees - On The Rose Farm
2018 NEW RELEASESEach year we are continually amazed by the disease tolerance of our new releases and this year is no exception! We are very excited to introduce an excellent range of new releases for Australian gardens, each proving that new roses are healthy roses.
Our 2018 Catalogue will be released at the end of March. Pre-order your copy to be one of the first to receive our latest edition.If you have already ordered or received roses from us last year, then don't worry. We will automatically send you one.
ROSE CARE FOR AUTUMN:After a very hot Summer the weather is now starting to cool down. With the cooler weather we appreciate more vibrant blooms and enjoy those last flushes before our roses transition into their dormant states for Winter. Although, with the cooler temperatures and higher rainfall we also see a increased prevalence of diseases and pests in our rose gardens.Black spot, mildew and aphids are very common during Autumn, which can cause our roses
to defoliate. Roses that have defoliated early, prior to Winter, will be unable to make and store their food before dormancy, which will mean poorer sprouting in Spring. Therefore, it is ideal to maintain as much foliage on our plants for as long as possible until Winter.Spraying regularly will help remove and prevent pests and disease . As always, we recommend organic or eco-friendly sprays. These products minimalise the negative impact on our gardens' natural ecosystem which helps to prevent further issues with plant health.
Roses that are under stress will be more susceptible to diseases and pests. With access to optimal water, nutrients and sunlight they have the resources to protect themselves from unwanted insects and fungal diseases. Plants respond to conditions, much like our own bodies. For example, if we have a well-balanced diet, drink plenty of water and exercise regularly, we have a stronger ability to fight cold and flues.Fertilising roses too close to Winter will promote fresh growth that does not harden before Winter, where it can become damaged by frosts and harsh weather. It is best to fertilise early to mid-Autumn and
generally avoid fertilising after April.For roses that defoliate prior to Winter, trim the plant slightly to encourage new growth and therefore new foliage, allowing the plant to photosynthesise and store food for Winter. Ensure to leave your strong pruning until Winter, though.
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show21st - 25th March Come see our new releases in person!We will be in the exhibition building at the RiAUS
display showcasing the 2018 new releases and be ready to answer any of your questions.
2018 Flower & Garden Show Competition
WIN a bed of roses by hash tagging your photos taken on our stand!Post any pic from our stand using the hashtag:
#newroses2018mifgs
and you could WIN 10 New Release Rose plants worth over $200!Prize will be delivered as bare root rose plants in June 2018.
PREPARING FOR NEW ROSES:In Autumn we start planning and preparing for any new rose additions. We prepare the soil and sift through the hundreds of available varieties to select the right rose.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT ROSE:At Treloar Roses we have over 500 varieties to choose from. With such a large availability it can be very daunting selecting the right rose for your garden, as there is more to consider than just the pretty flower.The key is to select the desired growth habits and category before choosing flower shape and colour.Follow the link below to view our step by step guide or contact our friendly staff for assistance.
SOIL PREPARATION:Give your roses the best possible start by preparing their new position well in advance of planting, at least two months prior.The position you are considering should have good drainage, receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, be protected from strong winds, be well away from any large shrubs or trees and appropriately distanced from other established roses.Test the soil pH before you begin working, it should sit between 6.5 and 7. Variations from this can result in the nutrients binding with the soil and becoming unavailable to the plant, causing health issues and in some cases, death. Testing kits can be purchased from hardware stores / garden centers and are easy to use.You will also need to consider if a rose has recently been removed from this position as the soil will have to be rested for an extended period or replaced with fresh soil before re-planting another rose.Once you have
done the above, begin preparing the soil. This involves digging through the addition of organic matter and moisture. What you add and how much will depend on the type of soil you are starting with.It is important that you do not use herbicides in the process of preparing new garden beds.Follow the link for more information on rose positioning, soil pH and soil preparation.
Our most helpful workers are in dire need of assistance. Bees world wide are dying at an alarming rate, due to chemical use, weakening health and urban sprawl.WHY SHOULD WE BEE ALARMED?It is estimated that 90 percent of our agricultural crops depend on Bees to produce a good harvest. That is - every fruit, grain, and vegetable you consume, even the oil you use, rely on Bees! The meat you eat is also fed by fodder that requires
on pollination. This is not to mention how important the Bees are to nature. Most plants need Bees to reproduce. If it has a seed, then it has been kissed by a Bee.HOW CAN YOU HELP?Create a Bee friendly garden. We all know Bees drink nectar, however they also need the pollen which is their source of protein, and contains nutrients essential for Bees to stay healthy. Lucky for us, roses produce a lot of pollen! You’ll find a Bee friendly variety in every category of roses!
TIP #1 - Choose varieties with single or semi double blooms to give Bees easy access. If you see the stamens, so can the Bees. Too many petals can hinder the Bees chance of getting to the pollen.
TIP #2 - Choose ‘healthy’ rose varieties. This reduces the amount of chemical sprays needed to combat disease. Look for award winning and new release varieties also!
TIP #3 - Use Eco Friendly garden products. Most pesticides have no filter - they kill all the bugs, good and bad. Try some home remedies too, such as a few drops of dish detergent in warm water sprayed directly on the pest.
REMEMBER - no matter what your taste in roses......plant one for the Bees! After all, where would we Bee without them?
ON THE ROSE FARM:Our display garden was absolutely stunning this Summer, so it is not surprising it has become increasingly popular for visitors, weddings and tours. After a lovely, but very hot Summer here in Portland, Victoria, we are now appreciating some slightly cooler days. During the extreme heat it can be a battle to keep the roses cool and hydrated, especially our younger plants.In Autumn, preparations are well on there way for the Winter bare rooted season and we begin planting our root stock which be grafted in Summer 2019 and planted in your gardens in 2020.
BATTLING THE HEATDuring mid-Summer, our newly budded plants are emerging with fresh growth that is very delicate and can be easily damaged due to extreme temperatures. To protect our immature plants we spray a crop protectant, which covers the plants with a white substance. Without this we could potentially suffer considerable losses. As you can see, only a month later they are now vigorously coming to life.
After - only a few weeks later
THE CHALLENGES OF NATUREEvery day poses new and exciting challenges on the farm.A few weeks ago, we unexpectedly lost a very large pine tree which fell directly onto one of our rose crops, damaging pipes and crushing hundreds of roses. An unfortunate loss.
THE START OF A NEW CROPIn Autumn we begin cutting and preparing our root stock which will be planted over the Autumn/Winter period.The root stock is cut from permanent root stock fields here on our property and carefully prepared by our skilled team.Once the stems are ready, they will be planted out into our fields where
they will establish their strong roots before being grafted next Summer.Most of these plants will go on to be sold in Winter 2020.
Our staff carefully preparing the stock
A WEDDING AMONGST ROSESOur gorgeous display garden is a stunning venue for wedding ceremonies, back dropped by thousands of roses.Over the last few months our garden hosted a number of beautiful weddings.
Remember, we are here to help! If you ever have any questions about your roses, please contact our friendly staff for assistance.
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